Review: Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor

A typical fitness tracker is good enough for most people. If you’re really trying to improve your athletic performance, though, you need a heart rate sensor that can measure how hard you’re working. That’s when it’s time for you to invest in a device like the Polar H7.

Top Features

A good heart rate monitor doesn’t have to come with a lot of extra features since it’s designed to do one thing very well. In our tests, we have found that the Polar H7 does that thing (measure your heart rate) as well as you can possibly expect from a consumer device.

The H7, however, is designed to do a little more than simply keep track of your heart beat. When connected to your smartphone or smartwatch, it can also help you count the number of calories that you burn during a workout. A lot of people, even amateur athletes, don’t realize how important their heart rates are to everything from maximizing performance to losing weight. We often focus on calories burned without paying a lot of attention to the underlying reasons that we burn more calories during certain activities.

With the Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor, you get to see exactly how many calories you are burning so you can choose the activities that will help you reach your goals fastest. For some people, that will mean choosing high intensity workouts that really get their hearts pumping. For others, though, it will mean slowing down their workouts so they can recover from exercise from the previous day.

There is a lot that you can gain by using a heart rate monitor. The Polar H7 is one of the easiest, most effective options.

What’s Unique About the Polar H7

Electronics don’t usually mix well with water. That’s true for a lot of devices, including wearables. That’s an obvious problem for swimmers who want to improve their performance.

The Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor is one of the few accessories we have tested that really can withstand full submersion into water. That makes it a great option for swimmers of all types. You don’t have to be trying to go pro to use a heart rate monitor. They are useful even if you are just trying to see what shape you are in or if you are trying to lose weight.

We also see an advantage for runners and cyclists. Getting outdoors during summer is sweaty business in some parts of the country. We’ve seen a few devices fail, not because they were fully submerged in water, but because an athlete’s body created so much sweat that the electronics started to fail. With the Polar H7, you never have to worry about things like that. When water-resistant isn’t enough, you need a device that’s fully waterproof.

Seeing as how few electronics can withstand an hour of swimming, we have to say that this is one of the Polar H7’s most unique feature. If you need a wearable that will help you become a better swimmer, then it’s a great option for you.

Polar H7 Price

The Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor usually retails for about $55. During our research, though, we were able to find it on sale for a few dollars less than that. Sales can come and go, though. If you want to buy a Polar H7, and you find it for sale at a price that’s under $50, you should go ahead and get it to make sure you can take advantage of those savings.

Of course, it also helps to choose a company that will give you free shipping and handling.

Potential Drawbacks

Some people complain that the chest strap isn’t comfortable. We, however, don’t find that this is true. In our experiences, the strap fits snugly without restricting movement. If worn for an extremely long time, it might cause some irritation, but that’s about it.

Still, this is something that a handful of users report, so we feel it’s important to mention. The chances that it will bother you is very small.

Furthermore some people report some issues with Android devices, which could be a potential drawback. With Apple products, however, we found no issues at all.

Conclusion

Whether you’re trying to get ready for a big competition or you just want to start getting into better shape, a good heart rate sensor can make a huge difference. The Polar H7 stands out as one of your best options. Not only does it work very well, but it’s waterproof and it’s affordable. It has become a popular choice among daily exercises and serious athletes who want to take more control of their workouts. If you are looking for a more up-to-date version, however, you should look into the M400 or V800.

At Tech Imperatives, we’re passionate about helping our readers learn about new technologies. We love reading and writing about the latest devices, so we have turned out interest into a useful resource that you can use to help you decide what types of consumer technology are right for you.

In addition to explaining general features included in products like smartphones, fitness trackers, and sleep wristbands, we give you specific details that will help you understand the pros and cons of each model.